I'll look for that thread for you. I thought it was a stick but can't seem to find it.

There are some mods out there that don't break the bank too much... If you wanna open up the motor you can do springs and rockers and stuff like that.

Did you do plugs and wires when you did the Opti?

But for the most part HP costs money. Intake/Headers/Exhaust/Gears/Converter/160 t-stat/Tune is probably the best way to start your performance modding. Once that stuff is in place, you have a solid base to go as wild and crazy as you want.

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I forgot to mention this earlier though:

If you haven't yet, check out the Impala Handbook. http://www.lisst.com/ss_handbook.pdf Save that link. Will make your life easier for years to come.

Bryan at www.pcmforless.com offers a core exchange program. He will send you a tuned PCM, and you send him back yours to recieve a $125 refund.

Alex at www.pcmperformance.com might do something similar, but on his website all it says is you can buy his PCM for $75.

I would recommend getting a tune from Alex, but I would not recommend spending $75 on a PCM. You should try and grab a cheap PCM from a junkyard(should be $20-$30), and send away that one to be tuned. That way you'll have no downtime and also a spare PCM just in case.

Another option is to have Alex send your tune via E-Mail. You'll just need a cable though to download from your laptop to the car.

Alex sells cables, http://pcmperformance.com/cables.html for $50.

A little more than it would cost for a spare PCM, but it would save you the hassle of a junkyard, shipping charges both ways, and anytime you change something you could do very inexpensive and easy re-tunes. That would probably be the best option if you have a laptop, or if someone in the club had the cable and would be willing to share? (I don't)

Rich, is your car a 95 or 96? If it's a 95 (OBD1) then the cable would be an excellent idea. If it's a 96 though (OBD2) then a spare PCM will be your best bet because there's no free or cheap ways to flash an obd2 car yourself.

Did you do all the free or cheap-ass mods like the baseball field delete (sewer pipe & hockey puck) and swiss cheesing the airbox? Just swapping out the stock mufflers for better flowing ones will help out a bit too. Summit turbos are GREAT for 15 bucks a piece.

And I'm totally bummed that I didn't get a chance to check out your car yesterday! And you were the only one who brought their SS up!!! Sorry man, I'll check it out soon!

hi if i ever get my ecm back from herter.and its all better. you can use my spare ecm. that came out of a 1995 impala ss .while yours is being flashed. but send it to alex at pcmperformance. $160.00 total. ok let me know. ron

+++++What ever number we are on for Alex @ PCMperformance.com I have used him 3 time and going for number 4 as soon as my 3:73s arrive. Not to say anything bad about the other guy, but when something works I try to stick with it. Well except a certain wagon that I got running mint, and then sold.

alex at pcmperformance. com the first flash is $145.00 plus s&h. i dont know prices for re flash. i wont use herter again. things were fine till i installed 4.11 gears now it wont call for od. maybe its me? ill know when i get it back. and go from there. alexs phone number is 917-825-9069 hopes this helps any one.